Ever wonder whether it’s worth it to apply a fungicide? How about the most cost-effective seeding rate? The national soy checkoff has put that information in the palm of your hand. A new app developed by the United Soybean Board includes two calculators that help farmers plan for their next crop. One helps users determine whether the yield benefits of …
USB Ensures Safe, Sustainable & Secure Food Supply
The 2012 Trade Talk during the National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s annual convention served as another successful opportunity for agriculture organizations to share what they are doing to serve their customers and the consumer. An example of this was when I sat down with Bob Haselwood, Treasurer for the United Soybean Board and Kansas crop farmer, at the recent event. …
Monsanto Vistive Gold Beans for Bio-based Products
Turns out that high-oleic soybean oil may be as good for motors as it is for hearts. A new collaboration announced today between Monsanto and Biosynthetic Technologies is expected to increase demand for high-oleic soybean oil and create new opportunities for Vistive® Gold soybean growers. The collaboration creates an opportunity for use of Monsanto’s Vistive® Gold soybean oil in production …
Meet the Who’s Who at NBB Conference
There are more than 10 reasons to attend the National Biodiesel Board’s Conference: Momentum, and here is reason number 5: Meet People. This conference marks the 20th Anniversary of the event and is still the place to meet and greet the real players in the biodiesel industry. The event is being held in Las Vegas (how apropos they would offer …
Soybeans Up, Corn Crop Down a Bit
The October USDA crop production report out this morning took a little bit more off the corn crop but increased the soybean crop by nine percent. Corn production is forecast at 10.7 billion bushels, down slightly from the September forecast and down 13 percent from 2011. This represents the lowest production in the United States since 2006. Based on conditions …
Iowa BASF Great Grower Happy With Yields
The Iowa harvest is coming along well ahead of schedule according to the latest USDA numbers – 56% of corn harvested compared to 8% average for this time of year and soybeans are 54% harvested compared to 21% average. The condition of the crops is not as bad as some of the Corn Belt states, although nearly half the corn …
USDA Lowers Grain Stocks
USDA’s Quarterly Grain Stocks report out this morning shows declines in stocks of corn, soybeans and wheat compared to this time last year. The report shows corn stocks down 12% from September 2011, soybean stocks down 21% and all wheat stocks down 2%. Old crop corn stocks in all positions on September 1, 2012 totaled 988 million bushels, soybeans totaled …
Soybean Association Grows a Nation in Afghanistan
We hear a lot about the war in Afghanistan but often times don’t hear as much about the peace-building efforts there. From my own experience, I can tell you that our efforts to build that nation will most likely have as big, if not bigger, impact as any military strike. Our friends at the American Soybean Association (ASA) must be …
Monsanto to Launch Acceleron Seed Treatments
Monsanto plans to introduce Acceleron® Seed Treatment Products with a new-generation fungicide for soybeans and cotton in the 2013 growing season. These seed treatment products will contain multiple modes of action to deliver more complete and consistent disease protection, including a new fungicidal active ingredient with defense against Rhizoctonia and Fusarium, continuous protection from seed and seedling diseases and broad-spectrum …
Slunecka New Minnesota Soybean Grower Exec
Tom Slunecka is taking the reins at the the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) and Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council as the new executive director. Prior to taking the helm of the soybean team on August 27, 2012, Slunecka was the vice president of marketing for PhibroChem where he focused on ethanol and animal agriculture. He also served as the executive director …